Father upset about 14-year-old being used in drug sting

The father of a 14-year-old child used in a minor Lake Orion marijuana bust is claiming that local police “shouldn’t have played cops and robbers with my son,” a situation a top prosecutor admits was dangerous.

In a recent drug investigation, the boy played a major role in the arrest of Edward Mark Watkins, 35, for attempting to sell drugs to a minor.

On Monday, the father — a Lapeer man who prefers to stay anonymous — said he just recently found out about the incident.

He was never called, neither asked for permission, nor even informed, he said.

“I’m not trying to get the father of the year award here ... if (the police) would’ve called me, we wouldn’t be talking about this right now,” said the man.

Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh said that while these types of investigative tactics are “not common,” there were extenuating circumstances that called for the boy’s assistance.

The original bust occurred March 15, when the boy’s mother contacted Lake Orion police.

“(The boy) had a relationship with the child of (Watkins’) girlfriend ... they were neighbors,” said Narsh. “This was a known adult, by virtue of the kids, who had a relationship with (the boy) for over a year.”

He said Watkins — a Southfield resident with a long criminal history — had the 14-year-old’s cell phone number and was pressuring the boy to buy marijuana from him that same day.

The boy’s mother “was fed up,” said Narsh. “She came to us and said, ‘We know this guy.’”

After talking with officers, the boy agreed to participate. His mother consented, and the case was built, Narsh said. An arrest warrant was authorized shortly after by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

The bust took place in a parking lot in the Village of Lake Orion, near the intersections of Anderson and Front streets. The child’s mother was brought along to witness the sting, said Narsh.

Watkins was arrested shortly after the sale to the minor was made.

After he was taken into custody, Lake Orion police put a felony warrant on Watkins and requested a further parole detainee hold “as a further way to protect the family,” said Narsh. “We wanted to get this guy off the street, so we put that extra hold on him.”

The Michigan Offender Tracking Information System currently lists Watkins as a parolee who is being held under custody. He also has a criminal background — stretching back more than 15 years — that includes convictions for first-degree retail fraud, which is shoplifting; felonious assault; fleeing a police officer; malicious destruction of property; uttering and publishing; larceny in a building; and receiving and concealing stolen property.

The boy’s father said that he’s glad Lake Orion police were able to catch Watkins, but “they didn’t have to approach (the 14-year-old) like that.”

“It’s child endangerment, in a way,” said the father. “I asked my son, ‘What’s going to happen when this guy gets out of jail? What if something did go wrong?’”

The Lapeer man said he’s unsure if his son is protected as an informant. In any case, he’s not happy about the situation, he added. He recently found out about the sting from a friend, and he said he’s more worried about the repercussions for his son — he may get bullied in school or worse, said the Lapeer resident.

“(Narsh) told me that using my son was the only way to get (Watkins),” said the father.

Narsh said that while this is not a normal situation, it’s also not a random event.

“I fully respect the father and his concerns,” said Narsh. “But (Watkins) was a predator who had this kid in his cross-hairs.”

Narsh added that the younger teenage population is the fastest growing demographic that drug dealers are targeting now.

According to Narsh, the 14-year-old may have to testify against Watkins if a trial occurs. He said that while this situation was a unique one, “we have 17-year-olds that participate in tobacco stings ... and 19-year-olds that participate in illegal sale of alcohol stings.”

A call to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office Monday revealed that, while prosecutors approved Watkins’ arrest warrant, officials did not agree with the Lake Orion Police Department’s investigation tactics.

“The behavior in which they were engaged is dangerous,” said Chief Assistant Prosecutor Paul Walton. “We would never sanction it, but it’s not our call.

“We don’t get to authorize or dictate how they do their investigations.”

Walton went on to say that what is needed when determining whether to sign a warrant is probable cause that a crime was committed.

As to whether the boy will have to testify, Walton said, “We won’t be making (the minor) do anything if we don’t have to. We’ve got to look at the evidence.”

In general, he said, prosecutors attempt to get a substantial amount of evidence needed for burden of proof.

“If we don’t have to call the witness, we don’t call the witness,” he said.

Prosecutor Jessica Cooper, agreeing with Walton, questioned what the officers were thinking.

“I can’t imagine using a 14-year-old kid as a(n) ... informant ... all for a $20 bag of marijuana,” said Cooper.

This is the first case Cooper said she’s seen with a minor participating in a drug bust.

The boy’s mother has expressed, through Police Chief Narsh, that she did not want to comment on the case.

Selling drugs to a minor is a felony charge that carries an eight-year penalty.

Watkins will appear April 22 in 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills for a preliminary exam on charges of controlled substance (marijuana) delivery to a minor, a felony that carries up to eight years in prison.